Baking & Snack - November 2017 - 138

NEW PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

SNACKING

RESPONSIBLY

The Gluten Free Bar packs protein and flavor into its new bite-sized snack.

GFB Bites are
made in a certified
gluten-free facility.
The Gluten Free Bar

In the US, it seems bigger is better. With big cars, big houses and even bigger personalities, Americans only seem to
be trying to downsize their waistline. Growing worries over
obesity and other health concerns have prompted citizens
to reexamine what and how they eat. Many are turning
to snacking as a way to indulge without going overboard.
"Snacking is now a staple of the American diet, and as consumers snack more often, they are looking for healthier
ways to indulge with high-quality ingredients," said Diana
Kelter, foodservice analyst, Mintel.
Tapping into this ever-growing trend, The Gluten Free
Bar (GFB), Grand Rapids, MI, introduced GFB Bites.
"Consumers have always loved the taste and better-foryou appeal of our bars, but we heard feedback that our
customers didn't always want to eat a full-size bar," said
Elliot Rader, co-founder and partner, GFB. "We decided
to take all the great things about our bars and put them
into more of a snackable format, and that is how GFB
Bites were born."
Combining the nutrition of a protein bar with the
decadence of a truffle, the snack is available in six varieties inspired by tart cherry, dark chocolate, toasted
coconut and nut flavors. The Non-GMO Project verified
treat is also free from gluten and soy and contains 110
Cal and 4 g protein for every two bites.
The company first introduced the product on its web-

138 Baking & Snack November 2017 / www.bakingandsnack.com

site, www.theglutenfreebar.com, as a way to gather feedback while it worked out manufacturing kinks. After receiving plenty of positive feedback, GFB supported the
product launch through in-store discounts, demos and
social media. The item is now sold at club, grocery and
natural foods stores nationwide with a suggested retail
price of $4.99 per 4-oz bag.
GFB Bites are created in the company's certified gluten-free facility, which allows the manufacturer to keep
a close eye on quality and craftsmanship. Production
has changed considerably since the product was first
launched, and the company has striven to automate
parts of its operation. Specifically, certain product attributes required GFB to work with suppliers to develop
custom-designed equipment.
GFB's mission is to create fun and flavorful gluten-free
snacks for everyone, and the development of GFB Bites has
been an exciting transition into the cluster category. "GFB
Bites are already proving to be a strong contender in the
emerging 'packaged snack' category," said Marshall Rader,
co-founder, GFB. "We believe that with some additional
work and awareness-building that our bites product will
be a leader in the category and will be what people reach
for when they are looking for better-for-you, high-protein,
bite-sized snacks."
- Anna Wiber

http://www.theglutenfreebar.com http://www.bakingandsnack.com

Baking & Snack - November 2017

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